SECRET
1
HONG KONG
CIVIL AFFAIRS POLICY DIRECTIVES
SOCIAL WELFARE
33
I. Social Welfare
A central Social Welfare Advisory Committee for the purpose of stimulating and co-ordinating work in this field siculd be established, The Committee should be presided over by a senior officer of the Administration and consist of representatives of all Departments concerned and such unofficial bodies or associatione concerned with social welfare as may be deemed desirable.
2. District Committees similarly constituted should be
organised for local areas.
3. Government should appoint a Social Welfare Officer and
the Welfare Staff should be under his direction.
4.
Scope of the Social Welfare Organisation
The efforts of the Committee and the Social Welfare Officer
should be directed towards improving the general well-being of the
community in its widest sense. To this end, the various Government
services which are directly concerned with the social welfare of the people (in particular, the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs, the Urban Council, the Port Authority, and the Medical and Aducation Departments)
should be conceived as part of a co-operative effort in which all
bodies and organisations, both official and unofficial, which are
competent to do so, should play their part. Programmes of depart- mental activities should form an integral part of a general plan for social welfare, based on the ascertained needs of the community and
so constructed as to give proper weight to the requirements of both
urban and rural areas. Programmes should be sanctioned only when
these conditions are fulfilled and it is clear that the Departments
and interests concerned have been fully consulted and that full
co-operation is assured. Social Welfare Committees, central and